Case assembly including a knapsack connected detachably to a traveling case

ABSTRACT

A case assembly includes a traveling case, a knapsack, and a separable zipper fastener for connecting detachably the knapsack to a case body of the traveling case. The case body has a first casing part that confines a space for storing articles therein, and a second casing part that is coupled to the first casing part for covering and uncovering the space of the first casing part. The separable zipper fastener includes a first zipper tape provided on the second casing part, a second zipper tape provided on the knapsack, and at least one slider element movably attached to one of the first and second zipper tapes and operable for inter-engaging removably the first and second zipper tapes, thereby connecting detachably the knapsack to the second casing part of the traveling case.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/210,054, filed by the applicant on Aug. 23,2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a case assembly, more particularly to a caseassembly that includes a knapsack connected detachably to a travelingcase.

2. Description of the Related Art

When on a trip, people usually take with them a wheeled traveling casefor storing clothes, and a knapsack for storing smaller personalbelongings. It is inconvenient to carry the knapsack while towing thetraveling case.

In commonly owned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/210,054, there is disclosed a case assembly that includes a travelingcase, a knapsack, and a set of male-female coupling units for couplingremovably the knapsack to the traveling case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is to provide a case assembly that includesa knapsack connected detachably to a traveling case.

Accordingly, a case assembly of this invention includes a travelingcase, a knapsack, and a separable zipper fastener for connectingdetachably the knapsack to the traveling case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment of acase assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a partly exploded perspective view of the preferredembodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a rear view to illustrate a knapsack of the preferredembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the preferred embodiment of a case assemblyaccording to the present invention is shown to comprise a traveling case3, a knapsack 4, and a separable zipper fastener 5 for connectingdetachably the knapsack 4 to the traveling case 3.

The traveling case 3 includes a case body 31 having a first casing part311 that confines a space for storing articles therein, and a secondcasing part 312 that is coupled to the first casing part 311 forcovering and uncovering the space of the first casing part 311. A set offoot posts 32 and a pair of wheels 33 are mounted on a bottom part ofthe first casing part 311. The traveling case 3 further includes aconventional retractable handle unit 34 provided on a rear side of thefirst casing part 311 opposite to the second casing part 312.

The knapsack 4 includes a bag body 41 and at least one shoulder strap 42connected to and disposed at a rear side of the bag body 41. In thisembodiment, there are two shoulder straps 42, each of which has oppositeends connected to the bag body 41. In practice, the shoulder straps 42may be designed to be adjustable in length in any conventional manner.Moreover, the shoulder straps may be further modified for wrappingaround the user's waist.

The separable zipper fastener 5 includes a first zipper tape 51 providedon an outer side of the second casing part 312 and arranged in the formof a loop that corresponds in size to the bag body 41 of the knapsack 4,a second zipper tape 52 provided on a periphery of the bag body 41, andat least one slider element 53 movably attached to one of the first andsecond zipper tapes 51, 52 and operable for inter-engaging removably thefirst and second zipper tapes 51, 52, thereby connecting detachably theknapsack 4 to the second casing part 312 of the case body 31 of thetraveling case 3.

Because the knapsack 4 can be connected detachably to the traveling case3 through the separable zipper fastener 5, there is no need to carry theknapsack 4 while towing the traveling case 3 when the case assembly ofthis invention is in use.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatis considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included withinthe spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompassall such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

1. A case assembly, comprising: a traveling case including a case body;a knapsack; and a separable zipper fastener for connecting detachablysaid knapsack to said case body of said traveling case.
 2. The caseassembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said case body has a firstcasing part that confines a space for storing articles therein, and asecond casing part that is coupled to said first casing part forcovering and uncovering the space of said first casing part.
 3. The caseassembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said separable zipper fastenerincludes a first zipper tape provided on said second casing part, asecond zipper tape provided on said knapsack, and at least one sliderelement movably attached to one of said first and second zipper tapesand operable for inter-engaging removably said first and second zippertapes, thereby connecting detachably said knapsack to said second casingpart of said traveling case.
 4. The case assembly as claimed in claim 3,wherein said knapsack includes a bag body and at least one shoulderstrap connected to said bag body.
 5. The case assembly as claimed inclaim 4, wherein said first zipper tape is disposed on an outer side ofsaid second casing part and is arranged in the form of a loop thatcorresponds in size to said bag body of said knapsack, and said secondzipper tape is provided on a periphery of said bag body of saidknapsack.
 6. The case assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein saidtraveling case further includes a retractable handle unit provided onsaid first casing part of said case body.
 7. The case assembly asclaimed in claim 5, wherein said traveling case further includes a setof foot posts and a pair of wheels mounted on said first casing part ofsaid case body.